It is understood that, as they entered the house the dog, thought to be a German Shepherd, responded by biting one of the officers on the ankle, who then shot the pet four times.

The officer was taken to hospital and later released with minor injuries.

The owner of the dog, James Nelson Jnr, was not available for comment.

Speaking on his behalf, his brother said he was very distressed about what happened earlier that day.

Philadelphia Police have yet to respond.

This is the latest in a long line of incidents where police have shot dogs being kept as pets for being aggressive towards them or otherwise.

TRIGGER HAPPY POLICE AND THEIR HISTORY WITH DOGS

Last week, Dillon County Police shot and killed two Rottweilers who had just mauled a pensioner to death while she was doing her gardening. When the owner was called, the dogs also attacked him and left him in hospital.

In January, West Seattle police responded to a domestic incident and shot two dogs who were attacking a female when they arrived. The woman was not hurt but said the dogs attacked her when she assaulted their owner, her brother.

In the same month, police were called to a home in Pennsylvania after a Pit Bull escaped
from its home. Though it did not hurt anyone, it began barking and
approaching the officer, who shot it in the chest and then again to 'put
it out of its misery'.

In December last year, a Georgia family’s golden retriever barked at a police officer who was walking through the family's yard while investigating a disturbance. When it ignored the officer's command to stop he shot it dead.

In October, Oakland police shot and killed a woman's Labrador dog when they were responding to a false burglary alarm. They left her a note to say that when they entered the house the dog began 'advancing towards themin a threatening way' so they had to shoot him.

In May, Cleveland police shot a pit bull three times after its owner let the dog loose on them when they surrounded his house in connection with a murder charge

In the same month, in Columbia, police shot a suspect's Pit Bull and corgi when they were carrying out a drug raid on his home. The pit bull died but the corgi survived.